Ever wondered who makes sure every product reaches customers exactly as it should? That’s where a product quality coordinator comes in. They’re responsible for ensuring that every product meets the standards set by both the company and customers. From checking the food itself to reviewing packaging, labelling, and even benchmarking products against competitors, they cover it all.
From the first check to the final sign-off, product quality coordinators play a vital role in maintaining the standards behind every product we supply. Behind the scenes, they ensure that every product meets the high expectations of our customers. In this blog, we’re shining a spotlight on Michelle Grant’s role as a Product Quality Coordinator at Bidfood over the last three years.
Why does quality matter to Bidfood?
Quality matters to Bidfood as we want to provide our customers with great quality food at great prices. Consistent quality keeps our customers coming back, and we know how important reliability is to them.
Why were you drawn to this type of role?
I was drawn to this role because of the chance to work across different categories, which keeps things really varied. No two days are the same, and I love being kept on my toes.
Why did you choose this profession at Bidfood?
I knew people who worked at Bidfood and had heard how much they enjoyed being part of the company. When an opportunity came up, I jumped at the chance, and I’ve never looked back.
What motivates you in your role?
What motivates me most is knowing that my work at Bidfood makes a real difference. By carefully benchmarking our products and carrying out thorough checks, I help ensure that everything we supply meets the high standards our customers expect.
How do you test that our own brand products meet high standards?
We test our own brand products against agreed-upon standards to ensure they consistently deliver the high quality our customers expect. Each item has something called a ‘Quality Attribute Sheet’ (QAS) which is agreed upon with the supplier. It covers everything from appearance to flavour, texture and aroma. Our checks go beyond food safety, we also look at the packaging, coding and labelling to ensure everything is correct and compliant.
Products are tested against the QAS through a schedule based on risk assessment, meaning higher risk or higher impact products are checked more frequently.
By following this QAS testing process, we ensure our own brand range maintains the high standards we set for ourselves, helping build customer trust and our brand’s reputation.
How many products does the technical services team test each month?
We test approximately 40 products each month against the QAS. This requires a high level of time management and forward planning to ensure every product is assessed thoroughly and consistently.
What is your favourite own brand product to test, and why?
I love being involved in all the Christmas NPD (new product development). It’s great to be able to see what the new trends for the upcoming festive period and how our suppliers respond to the briefs, as well as the creative own brand products they can come up with.
What is a common misconception about product quality testing?
I would say the most common misconception around product quality testing is the amount of waste. People often think that all the leftovers go to waste, however, all our leftover products are given to our local charitable trust in Slough. Even open items, meaning nothing goes to waste. There is a weekly collection, supporting our commitment to sustainable practices.
How does your role help ensure consistency across all products?
By doing my monthly testing we can ensure that our products meet the high standards that our customers expect. This helps us identify issues around packaging or quality concerns with the products and reporting them to the technical managers who then report directly to the suppliers. We also have a good knowledge of what our own brand products are like as we see them often.
Behind every product is a team of people who care deeply about getting it right, and Michelle is a perfect example of that. From detailed taste tests to checking labels and packaging, her work happens quietly in the background, but its impact is felt by customers every day. It’s not just about ticking boxes, it’s about understanding what good quality looks like and making sure it stays that way.
A big thank you to Michelle and the wider team for the expertise they bring to their roles every day.
